Drop-offs accepted through August 10 to benefit children in NYC shelters
Through August 10, Brooklyn Borough Hall is an official drop-off location for donations of new backpacks and school supplies to support Volunteers of America-Greater New York and their mission to help children in need. School supplies can also be purchased at any Duane Reade in all five boroughs and dropped off right in the store. Last year, Volunteers of America-Greater New York distributed 8,000 backpacks to 100 shelters in New York City—1,200 were given out to children in Brooklyn. This year, the need is even greater: the goal for Brooklyn is 4,400 new, filled backpacks.
“Our homeless children and youth face seemingly insurmountable obstacles to a quality education, and are more likely to drop out of school and not have the secure, stable environment that a classroom provides,” said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. “Brooklyn Borough Hall is again proud to be a drop-off site for Operation Backpack, and I say bravo to the Volunteers of America-Greater New York and all of their public and corporate sponsors for helping children in shelters—who sometimes bear the weight of the world on their shoulders—to carry knowledge and a bright future on their backs.”
“Homelessness has a devastating impact on children’s education,” said Richard Motta, president and CEO of Volunteers of America-Greater New York. “The cost of a single backpack with necessary supplies can easily exceed $100. We strive to bring some normalcy into the lives of these children, and to equip them with the tools they need to succeed in school, because we believe that education is key to breaking the cycle of homelessness. We are thankful to the public officials—including Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz—for their support of Operation Backpack 2012, as well to corporations who sponsor the campaign and hold drives, and hundreds of individuals who participate in or donate to the campaign.”
For more on Operation Backpack, www.voa-gny.org/Get-Involved/Operation-Backpack
